Swig Sugar Cookies

I found this recipe for Swig Sugar Cookies on Pinterest.  These cookies looked amazing and the pinner said these were the best sugar cookies ever.  Swig's is a little place down in St. George, Utah.  Anyway, I am always looking for the very best recipes so I gave these a go.
Taste is a very subjective thing...Ryan took a bite and said these were the WORST sugar cookies he had ever tasted in his life.  I took a bite and I thought, "Hmmm...these are a little different."  The icing is a sour cream frosting so it has a kind of "twang" to it.  The first cookie I ate I loved the cookie part (absolutely delicious!), but I wasn't so sure on the frosting.  I tried another cookie later that evening when the cookie had been in the refrigerator (they say the cookie should be cold).  It totally grew on me.  This morning, yes, I ate one more, and I loved it!  So, if you don't love them at first, they do grow on you.  I think that if you have children they may enjoy the cookie better with a regular buttercream or even a cream cheese frosting.  Jake was only "so so" on the icing too...but we adults liked the not overly sweet, tangy flavor.
********UPDATE:  Ryan now LOVES these cookies.  He likes them when they are cold and he now likes the frosting.  This cookie truly does grow on you!!!!
Ben: 8
Becky: 8
Jake: "They're okay"
Ryan:  "Worst sugar cookie I've ever had in my life" ....after 2nd cookie, he says they aren't so bad :)

Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta

Okay, so I know this is a lame picture...oh well....but don't let the picture fool you.  This Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta is AMAZING!!!!  I took a recipe off of Pinterest and tweaked it to what I had in my pantry.  The result was a delicious pasta recipe....and my family would agree it is way better than anything you would get at Olive Garden.  

Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta

Alfredo Tomato Sauce:

1 stick of Butter

2 tsp. garlic

1 pt. Heavy Cream (or use half and half to save the calories)

1 C. Parmesan Cheese shredded

2 TBLS Cream Cheese

1/2 tsp salt and pepper

1 10 oz. can Diced tomatoes with green chiles

2 Tbls. Fresh chopped basil

Pasta:

16 oz. of bow tie or any kind of your favorite pasta (I used what I had on hand...I don't remember what it was called but it worked great)

 Melt the butter and add garlic...then add the heavy cream, parmesan cheese, cream cheese, salt and pepper.  Keep on a low heat and let cook for a few minutes.  Then add 1/2 can of a 10 oz. can of Diced tomatoes with green chiles (you can add more of the tomatoes, but the more you add the more spicy it will be).  

Ben: 10

Becky: 9.5

Jake: 9.5

Ryan: 9

Paula Dean's Crockpot Potato Soup

Paula Dean's Crockpot Potato Soup  This soup looked pretty good and I had the makings so I decided to give it a try.  It is really tasty and has so few ingredients! It's one of those great crockpot recipes where you just throw in the stuff and later on in the day you have a delicious and filling dinner.  I love the crockpot!!  If you have ever been to Cowboy Grub and had their Potato Cheese Soup, this is really close.  It's Jake's favorite soup and I was excited to find a recipe that is pretty darn close.  I added a little combo of Monterey Jack and Cheddar Cheese on the top.  This will be a great recipe come fall and winter.  Jake and I are the only ones home, so you'll only get our ratings for this recipe.

Jake: 9
Becky: 8.5

Bird's Nest Pie.....

This is the ultimate comfort food.  Warm, filling, and absolutely DELICIOUS!!!!  It is way better than plain old spaghetti or lasagna.  In fact, this is my family's favorite meal.  I highly recommend doubling the recipe and freezing the 2nd portion in a disposable pan.  This meal is a hit anywhere I take it....and it is the one recipe that scores straight 10's with the whole family!
Bird's Nest Pie
8 oz. spaghetti noodles
2 eggs beaten
1/3 C. Parmesan cheese
3 TBLS. melted butter
1 TBLS. parsley flakes
1 C. sour cream (I use the light sour cream and you can't tell)
4 oz.  softened cream cheese
1 lb. Italian sausage
1/2 C. chopped onion
6 oz. can Italian tomato paste
1 C. water
1 C. Mozzarella cheese

Cook spaghetti noodles in salted water.  Drain.  Mix warm spaghetti with eggs, Parmesan cheese, butter and parsley.  Press into greased pie plate or 9x13 pan.  Mix sour cream and cream cheese together.  Spread on top of spaghetti crust.  Sprinkle with Mozzarella.  Brown sausage with onion.  Add tomato paste and water.  Simmer 10 minutes.  Pour on top of cheese.  Bake uncovered 45 minutes at 350*.  Top with Mozzarella.

Ben:  10
Becky:  10
Josh:  10
Jake:  10
Ryan:  10

Delicious, Fall Apart Roast

    I have to say, I make a really great roast.  I always purchase a Chuck Roast and look for decent marbling.  Then I coat it with salt, pepper, garlic salt and flour.  I place it in a large pot and sear it in hot oil on all sides. Then I add water until it is almost covered.  I throw in a chopped up onion and several crushed cloves of garlic.  After about 7-8 hours on a low simmer, the roast is done and fabulous!  Now......I have found a recipe that has all of the flavor (even more I might add), and is even easier!!!!
Here you go:
1 package Brown gravy
1 package Ranch dressing
1 package Italian dressing

Mix the three packages together with 2 cups of water.  Put your roast (my favorite is Chuck roast, but you could use whatever you have or like) in a crockpot and pour the seasoning mixed in the water over the roast.  The water/seasoning mixture should about cover the roast..you can add more water if needed.  Now cook it on low 8-9 hours or on high 3-4 hours.  YUMMY!!!!!!!!!   The drippings from this makes the most amazing gravy!!!!!

Dad: 9.5
Mom: 9.5
Jake: 9.5
Ryan: 8

Mexican Dorito Casserole

The Mexican Dorito Casserole looked so good on a pinterest post I saw.... I decided to give it a try.  This was a pretty good dinner.  It received solid "likes" from my family.  I used canned chicken, so it was super fast and easy.

Dad: 8
Mom: 8
Jake: 8.5
Ryan: 8

School Lunch Peanut Butter Bars

These are "School Lunch Peanut Butter Bars".  I made these the other day and they are pretty close to the actual chocolate frosted peanut butter bars I had back in the day while in school.  I have to admit, most of the time I brought lunch from home, but when these were on the menu, I'd get school lunch just to have one. The only thing I would do differently than the recipe, is the peanut butter you spread on the bars after they come out of the oven, is pretty measly.  I would spread 1 1/2 cups on top of the bars instead of the called for 3/4 c.  These are a delicious treat!

Ben: 9
Becky: 9
Jake: 9.5
Ryan:  didn't try....go figure?